Combined selector, time control, and distributor



Oct. 15, 1940. GRQCH 2,217,901

COMBINED SELECTOR, TIME CONTROL, AND DISTRIBUTOR Filed April 17, 1939 GEM/0 M Patented Oct. 15, 1940 PATENT OFFICE COMBINED SELECTOR, TIME CONTROL, AND DISTRIBUTOR Robert D. Groch, Berkeley, Calif.

Application April 17, 1939, Serial No. 268,271

11 Claims.

This invention, a combined selector, time control, and distributor for electrical circuits, is speciflcally designed for selective, time-controlled operation of a plurality of different operable arrangements or devices, each including at least one, or a series of coincidental and/or sequential arrangement of steps or operations following through a closed cycle, and is particularly applicable to display devices and arrangements, and for actuating apparatus illustrating various cyclic procedures, such as migrationmaps and functional displays.

The objects and advantages of this invention are as follows:

First; to provide a selective switch incorporating a series of controls individually operable at willand barred against simultaneous operation and in which the operation of one control locks the remainder of the controls of the series against operation.

Second; to provide a switch as outlined with time control means including locking means for each of the series of controls for maintaining an operable condition of the operated control for a predetermined period of time or through a predetermlned cycle of operations, and in which the time control means includes release means for releasing the operated control at the termination of said period of time or completion of said predetermined cycle, to release the remaining controls for selective operation.

Third; to provide a switch as outlined with a distributor for each control, and with means for driving said distributor for carrying through a predetermined cycle of operations as previously mentioned.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description is read on the drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, of which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through the invention taken on a line of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the invention and is shown partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram adaptable to the invention.

Fig. 4 shows a diagrammatic arrangement of the distributor and main control and including a wiring diagram.

The invention includes a series of push buttons III, II, II, which are normally retained in raised position by means of the springs l3; these buttons being secured to the upper ends of the respective plungers l4, l5, l6, which are slidable through suitable passages formed in the cap H which is illustrated as being of inverted-channel form, and these plungers are also slidable through passages formed in the foot member I8 which is similarly shaped but oppositely disposed relative to the member ll. The two members I1 and [8 are rigidly connected and spaced by the front and rear walls respectively I! and 20 of the switch housing.

Swingably supported by the walls I! and 20 through pivots 2|, links 22 and pivots 23, is a lock bar 24 which is provided with respective noncoincidental-alignment plunger apertures 25, 26, 21 which permit only one plunger to pass through at any one time and thereby preventing depression of any other plunger while the one plunger is depressed.

The plungers each have a latch recess 28 for cooperation with a latch 28 which is pivoted at 30 and which is continuously urged to cooperate with the recess by means of the spring blade iii of the switch 32, and the lower end of each plunger is conically formed as indicated at 33 and terminates in a cylindrical tip 34 which acts as a pilot and which is never retracted from the lock passage 25.

Two pins, respectively 35 and 36 are fixed in and project radially from each plunger and function as guide pins operating in a slot 3'! formed in the wall 20 to prevent rotation of the plunger. The upper pin 35 also functions as a stop to prevent excess lift of the plunger by cooperation with the under edge of the cap H as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lower pin 36 also functions as a timer-setting device through cooperation with the timer lever 38 as indicated at 39. This timer lever may be formed as a continuous plate extending throughout the length of the series of plungers, or, as shown, a separate lever for each plunger with all of the levers secured to the same pivot 40 with the pivot extending throughout the length of the series of plungers.

One of these levers is provided with a springurged pawl 4i, and a forward stop 42 limits the ,forward swing of the pawl for a purpose to be later described.

The pawl 42 is arranged to cooperate with the shoulder 43 formed in the piston rod 44 during depression of any button IO, N, l2, and to release from this shoulder when the plunger has been depressed to its approximate limit, and this release is accomplished through the medium of the forward stop 42 as the lever 38 moves through its arc of travel, the pawl being gradually moved back off the shoulder 43 and thus releasing the piston rod.

The timer or time control means includes the piston rod 44 which has a piston 45 at its lower end and which is provided with a cup leather for sealing, and the piston operates in the dashpot cylinder 46 which is provided with a suitable adjustable air-inlet jet 41 to control the timing.

A weight 48 is hung at one end of counterweight lever 49 which is intermediately pivoted at II and has its other end pivotally attached to the upper end of the piston rod 44 as indicated at II, this lever being suitably slotted, (not shown) to permit its arcuate movement relative to the piston rod The weight 48 thus normally maintains the piston in a raised position, as shown.

Mounted in cooperative relation to the upper end of the piston rod is a normally-open switch 52 which is normally closed by the raised piston rod through the urgence of the weight 4., as shown.

A normally-open switch 53 is mounted in cooperative relation to each pilot 34 and is closed thereby when its cooperatively-related plunger is depressed as indicated at 54, Fig. 2.

Mounted on the front of the apparatus is a plate 55 which is pivoted as indicated at I and which extends throughout the length of the series of plungers, and which is adapted to cooperate with the triggers II on the latches 20 for retraction of the triggers. A solenoid 58 is mounted in cooperative relation to this plate and has its core operatively connected thereto, the core being normally retracted as shown.

The operation of the invention proceeds as follows:

The button III, II or it, which controls the desired operable arrangement or device is depressed to the position indicated by button H. During initial depression of the button, the pin 36 depresses lever 18 and pawl 4| which cooperates with shoulder 43 on piston rod 44, depressing this piston rod and its associated piston 45, moving the upper end of the piston rod down and away from the lower spring member I of switch 52, permitting this switch to assume its normal circuit-breaking condition. Further movement of the button depresses piston 45 to the bottom of the dash-pot cylinder 46, and the final portion of this movement moves the pawl 4| of! the shoulder 43, due to the arcuate path of movement of the pivot for the pawl and to the forward stop 42, which thus releases the piston rod. Weight 48 is thus permitted to act through lever 49 and thus starts to slowly raise the piston 45 and its associated piston rod 44 at a speed determined and controlled by the bleeder cock 4''.

Coincidently, during this final movement of the plunger, the pilot '4 depresses the upper spring member ill of its associated switch 53 and thereby closing this switch. Due to previous opening of switch 52 there is still no complete circuit.

The terminal movement of the plunger moves the slot 28 down far enough to permit the latch to engage in the slot, this latch 29 being urged into the slot 28 by the spring member ll of switch 32 and thus permitting switch 32 to assume its normally-closed condition, the latch thus locking the plunger in fully depressed position. All operations so far described are completed in a fraction of a second.

As soon as switch 32 is closed, a circuit is completed from power line 6| through switch 32, motor 62 to power line 63. Motor 2 is provided with suitable reduction gearing, and upon completion of the circuit through switch 12, it starts slowly rotating cam 4, which cam, in its initial movement releases the normally-open switch 65 as indicated in section "B" of the wiring diagram and which is the section controlled by button ii. As the cam rotates, it completes circuits to other devices such as through the switch 80, Fig. l, which is also indicated as normally open, or, the additional circuits are completed through a separate distributor, a suitable type of which is illustrated diagrammatically in Pig. 4.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, a disc 81 formed of insulating material is provided with one or more series of contacts; two circular series being indicated in this diagram. This disc is fixedly mounted concentrically to the shaft N on which the came '4 is mounted. A brush, shown as a double sweep-arm L4. is rotated by this shaft and is electrically insulated therefrom and is electrically connected to one side I of the power line. The contacts are arranged to suit the sequence and time period of operation.

Considering the rotation of the cam and arm as clockwise. the initial movement of the cam releases switch 45 to open, and arm 69 next closes a circuit through an electromagnet II for a brief instant, then arm ll closes a circuit through a lamp I2 and before this lamp is extinguished, arm I closes circuit to a motor I! which is operated for some time and before termination of its operation arm ll closes circuit to lamp 14, an electromagnet I! is cut into circuit during operation of this last mentioned lamp, and, in the meantime, the weight has raised piston rod 44 and caused it to close switch l2; however, switch 65 is still open in its circuit.

The final movement of cam 84 causes it to close switch 65 completing circuit through power line 43, switch 52, wire ll, switch 55, wire 11, switch 53, wire ll, solenoid I, wire I. to line I, energizing this solenoid which through its core draws the plate 5 forward. This plate 58 engages the latch trigger and releases the latch 29 from the recess 2| and coincidently opens switch 32 breaking circuit to the motor, stopping the cam and sweep-arms, with the cam 04 in a position closing switch I.

The spring I! snaps the plunger and its button back to its normal raised position, allowing switch 53 to open, thus breaking all circuits and resetting the control for subsequent operation through any one of the buttons.

As is evident from the disclosure in Fig. 2, when any button is depressed. neither of the other buttons can be depressed to eifect closing of any other circuit since the holes are spaced differently than the plungers and no two holes can be brought simultaneously into alignment with any two plungers. After a plunger has returned to its initial position at the completion of a cycle of operations, depression of any plunger will align its related hole and mis-align all of the other holes.

It will be understood that variations in construction and arrangement of parts, which variations are consistent with the appended claims. may be resorted to without detracting from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. A combined selector, time control, and distributor for electric circuits comprising; a series of manually depressible plungers; latching means including a latch for each plunger for latching the plungers individually in depressed position; a first switch including means urging closing thereof and cooperatively related to and controlled by eachlatch and urging the latch to latching position and closed when latching is effected; releasing means and actuating means therefor for releasing any latch from its depressed plunger; a second switch cooperatively associated with each plunger and closed by said plunger upon depression of the plunger, and including urging means for opening said switch when released; locking means eifectively looking all other plungers against depression when one plunger is depressed; time control means set into operation upon depression of any plunger; a third switch cooperatively related to and controlling said actuating means and controlled by said time control means .and normally maintained closed and released to open throughout each period of actuation of said time control means, and means for opening said switch when released; a motor and a circuit therefor associated with each plunger and controlled by said first switch; a cam driven by said motor; a fourth switch cooperatively associated with and controlled by said cam and normally maintained closed and released to open following the start and closed upon completion of one revolution of'said cam and controlling said actuating means for said releasing means to release the engaged latch from its depressed plunger at the completion of a cycle and being wired in series with said second and third switches to insure completing circuit for releasing said engaged latch upon closing of said fourth switch, and breaking of all circuits upon release of said engaged latch through said first and second switches.

2, A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said latching means includes a recess formecLin the side of each plunger for cooperation with its latch, and in which said first switch includes a spring blade forming one of the circuit making and breaking members thereof cooperating with the latch and urging the latch to engage in the recess and thus releasing the spring blade to close to its mating contact when the latch is engaged in the recess and being opened when said actuating means is actuated.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which said releasing means comprises a plate pivotally mounted at each end and extending throughout the length of the series of latches; a trigger on each latch operatively associated with the free end of the plate; and a solenoid operatively connected to said plate and being connected in circuit through said second, third and fourth switches and actuated upon closing of said fourth switch and with its circuit broken upon release of said plunger.

4. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which said locking means comprises a swingablymounted plate having a passage for each plunger with only one plunger axially alignable with its passage at one time, whereby operation of the plungers is selectively limited.

5. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which said time control means comprises a dash pot having a cylinder provided with a bleeder cook; a piston and a piston rod having an engaging shoulder formed therein; a lever for each plunger; a pivot having the levers for the respective plungers fixed thereon and a pawl on one lever adapted to engage said shoulder to depress the piston, and a forward stop for said pawl; a pin on each plunger cooperatively related to its lever; a counterweight and a lever therefor intermediately pivoted and connected at its terminal end to said piston rod and acting to raise the piston; said third switch being closedby the piston rod when the piston rod is in its raised position and opened during the lowering and raising movements thereof.

6. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which said latching means includes a shoulder formed in the side of each plunger for cooperation with its latch, andin which said first switch includes a spring blade forming one of the circuit control members of the switch and cooperating with the latch and urging the latch to engage the shoulder and thus release the spring blade to close its circuit when the latch is engaged with the shoulder; and in which said releasing means comprises a plate pivotally mounted at each end and extending throughout the length of the series of latches; a trigger on each latch operatively associated with the free end of the'plate; and a solenoid operatively connected to said plate and being connected in the circuit including said second, third and fourth switches and actuated upon closing of said fourth switch following one revolution of said cam.

7. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which said releasing means comprises a plate plvotally mounted at each end and cooperatively related to all of the latches; a trigger on each latch operatively associated with the free end of the plate; and a solenoid operatively connected to said plate and being connected in the circuit including said second, third and fourth switches; and in which said locking means comprises a swingably-mounted plate having a passage for each plunger with only one plunger axially alignable with a passage at one time.

8. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which said latching means includes a shoulder formed in each plunger for cooperation with its latch, and in which said first switch includes a spring blade forming one circuit control member of the switch cooperating with the latch and urging the latch to engage the shoulder and thus release the spring blade to close to its mating control member when the latch is engaged with the shoulder; and in which said releasing means comprises a plate pivotally mounted at each of its ends and cooperatively related to all of the latches; a trigger on each latch operatively associated with the free end of the plate; and a solenoid operatively connected to said plate and being connected in the circuit including said second, third and fourth switches and actuated upon closing of said fourth switch; and in which said locking means comprises a swingably-mounted plate having a passage for each plunger and being formed on different centers than the plungers for selective reception of the plungers.

9. A combined selector, time control and distributor for electric circuits comprising a plurality of motors and circuits therefor; a first switch and switch control means therefor associated with and controlled by each motor; a selective manual control for each motor and individually operable and controlled by its motor, for release, and locking means maintaining selectivity thereof; latch means for latching each control in depressed position, and a switch cooperating with each latch means for individually latching any control in operative position and simultaneously completing circuit through its switch to its motor; latch releasing means for releasing any engaged latch and including a solenoid and a circuit therefor and an operative leasing means; time control means operatively associated with all of said controls and made operative through operation of any one 01' said controls and operating through a single cycle for each operation of a control and including a second switch disrupting said circuit for said solenoid upon initial operation of any control and completing its portion of the circuit at the completion of its cycle; the balance of said circuit being completed through said first switch upon completion of a cycle of operations of said motor to energize said solenoid to actuate said releasing means to release the latch from the manual control; and a third switch controlled by each manual control and breaking said solenoid circuit when the control is released by said latch; the release of said latch coincidently opening said first switch and breaking circuit to said motor.

10. A structure as claimed in claim 9 in which said manual controls each comprise a plunger and a spring normally maintaining said plunger in projected position; said locking means comconnection between said solenoid and said reprising a plate having a passage for each plunger with the passages formed on centers diiierent than the centers of the plungers. whereby only one plunger is alignable with a passage at any time; said plungers each terminating in an inverted conical section terminating in turn in a cylindrical pilot of smaller diameter extending into its passage for respectively aligning the passage with the plunger and preventing excess misalignment of the passage through operation oi another plunger or through swinging oi the plate. 7

ii. A structure as claimed in claim 9 in which said time control means includes a dash pot having a piston and a piston rod, a lever having a pawl and cooperatively related to said piston rod and to each manual control and placed in operation through operation of any of said manual controls and iorming time delay means for initial operation oi the motor to prevent actuation of the releasing means before completion of a cycle of operation.

ROBERT D. GROCH. 

